A total of 212 “more self-assured and more capacitated” pregnant teens from different barangays of the Municipality of Rodriguez-Montalban, Rizal attended the “Teenage Pregnancy Symposium” at the Municipal Gymnasium during the celebration of the 2022 National Women's Month, March 9 to 14.
The purposeful symposium with the theme ““WE Make CHANGE Work for Women: Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran,” clearly promoted the personal well-being and enhanced the community engagement of the pregnant teen participants. It made them realize that even with their early experience of pregnancy, they can get their life back with their new learnings, skills and involvement.
The event highlighted relevant and interesting topics for the young mothers such as: “Nutrition during Pregnancy”; “Incidence of Teen Pregnancy and the Results of Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey,” and “Family Planning and STI/HIV/AIDS Awareness.”
NNC Calabarzon Provincial Nutrition Focal Point (PNFP), Ms. Mary Emerene Pingol, discussed “Nutrition during the First 1000 Days of Life” with the symposium participants and emphasized proper nutrition during pregnancy. Her talk hopefully encouraged young mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding right after giving birth to ensure the nutrition of the child’s first 1000 days of life.
Ms. Pingol distributed nutrition IEC materials from the NNC such as “Pinggang Pinoy for Pregnant and Lactating Women” to serve as guide to proper diet and good nutrition; and Nutri Komiks Series 7: “Maayos at Ligtas na Pagbubuntis, Atin Tiyakin” for proper maternal nutrition.
NNC Calabarzon Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Milagros Adriano also reiterated the importance of the First 1000 days as the Covid-19 normalizes in the community.
In addition, the municipality gave out OB kit bags containing adult diaper, baby diaper, baby oil, baby soap, cotton, and alcohol.
In moving further its nutrition advocacy, the region’s Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) is now resuming its efforts and initiatives towards protecting the first 1000 days of the future human resource of the municipality by prioritizing the nutritionally at-risk population such as the pregnant teens.
Their current initiatives will be addressing and ensuring the health and nutritional well-being of the most vulnerable pregnant women in the municipality. It is likewise, one notch closer towards alleviating and arresting stunting among children in their community.
In recall, the municipality of Rodriguez-Montalban is one of the ECCD-F1K areas targeted by the NNC and is fully committed to portraying their roles and responsibility to contribute to achieving the local and national nutrition goals.
By: Mary Emerene P. Pingol
